In Brief:
- Three bodies recovered from Trishuli River bank in Nuwakot
- 17 rescued, including 12 by helicopter; five taken to hospital
- 14 Rasuwa Customs Office staff missing, 25 accounted for
- Flood swept away around 60 houses near Trishuli Bazaar
- Trishuli and Devighat hydropower projects damaged, solar plant hit
- WHO sending medicines, tents; Health Ministry reserves 100 beds
- Cause under investigation - possible glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF)
Three people have died and at least 17 rescued after a flash flood in the Bhotekoshi River swept through Rasuwa and Nuwakot on Wednesday, leaving 14 customs staff missing and causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.
District Police Office chief Bipin Regmi said three unidentified bodies were recovered from the Trishuli River bank in Nuwakot - two at Simchaur and one at Kolputar.
Five people stranded by the flood were rescued and taken to Chakradev Hospital in Bidur Municipality-4, though road access to Trishuli Hospital has been disrupted after roads and bridges were swept away.
Earlier, the Nepali Army said 12 people had been rescued by helicopter - six from Syafrubesi, two from Mailung and four from Dhunche. Four Army and eight private helicopters have been mobilised for search and rescue operations.
The flood, which entered Nepal from the Tibetan side through the Bhotekoshi River, swept away around 60 houses near Trishuli Bazaar in Nuwakot and damaged two motorable bridges. Devighat was also affected.
No casualties had initially been reported in Nuwakot as residents living near the Trishuli River moved to safer locations after receiving early warnings. The flood also damaged the Trishuli and Devighat hydropower projects and swept away three blocks and a substation of a 25-MW solar power plant.
Meanwhile, 14 employees of the Rasuwa Customs Office in Timure remain out of contact, including 11 permanent and three contract staff. Twenty-five employees, including Chief Customs Administrator Rajendra Dhungana, have been accounted for, according to the Finance Ministry's secretariat.
The government has intensified search, rescue and relief operations, mobilising the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepali Army and district administrations. Prime Minister Balendra Shah directed agencies to ensure coordinated operations, while President Ram Chandra Paudel urged government bodies, political parties, social organisations and citizens to intensify efforts.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said the flooding was not caused by rainfall, noting that precipitation in Rasuwa over the past 24 hours was light, under seven millimetres. Authorities are studying the possibility of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).
The World Health Organization is preparing to send medicines and equipment for around 1,000 people, along with 15 emergency tents. The Ministry of Health has reserved 100 emergency beds at Bir Hospital and the Trauma Centre in Kathmandu, deploying six doctors and two nurses, and sending an ambulance with medical supplies to affected areas.
